NFL Execs, Coaches Identify 10 Breakout Players to Watch in 2026

Key Points:

• The 2024 NFL season saw impactful rookie contributions from players like Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean (Eagles) and Rashee Rice, Trent McDuffie, and Jaylen Watson (Chiefs), highlighting the importance of young talent in team success.
• Several rookies and second-year players are poised for breakout seasons in 2025, including Jets DE David Bailey, Buccaneers DE Rueben Bain Jr., Jaguars WR Josh Cameron, and Vikings CB Charles Demmings, each showing promise during training camps and preseason games.
• Other notable young players to watch include Bills ILB Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Packers WR Matthew Golden, 49ers DE Romello Height, Titans LB Anthony Hill Jr., Ravens WR Ja’Kobi Lane, and Chiefs DE R Mason Thomas, who have impressed coaches and analysts with their potential impact.
• Teams are increasingly relying on rookies and younger players to fill key roles, with some like the Chiefs and Packers making strategic roster changes to provide more opportunities for emerging talent.
• Injuries and rotations during preseason have given these young athletes chances to showcase their skills, setting the stage for potentially significant contributions as the regular season begins.